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General Orders, 11 July 1776

General Orders

Head Quarters, New York, July 11th 1776.

Parole Quebec.Countersign Roxborough.

General Spencers Brigade, instead of repairing to their Alarm post, to hold themselves in readiness to march to morrow morning at four O’Clock—The Brigadier General will attend at Head Quarters this evening for orders, which he will deliver on the parade, to morrow morning, to the brigade.

As the weather is very warm, there will be the greatest danger of the Troops growing unhealthy, unless both officers and men are attentive to cleanliness, in their persons and quarters, The officers are required to visit the men frequently in their quarters to impress on them the necessity of frequently changing their linnen, cleaning their persons,1 and wherever it can be avoided not to cook their victuals in the same room where they sleep—If any of the officers apprehend themselves crowded in their quarters they are to represent it to the Barrack Master who is ordered to accommodate them in such a manner as to be most conducive to health and convenience—The good of the service, the comfort of the men, and the merit of the officers will be so much advanced, by keeping the troops as neat and clean as possible, that the General hopes that there will be an emulation upon this head; and as a scrutiny will soon be made, those who shall be found negligent will be punished, and the deserving rewarded.

Varick transcript, DLC:GW.

“Henshaw’s Orderly Book,” description begins “The Orderly Books of Colonel William Henshaw, October 1, 1775, through October 3, 1776.” Proceedings of the American Antiquarian Society, n.s., 57 (1948): 17–234. description ends 177, includes the following orders at the end of the general orders for this date: “40 Men properly Officer’d to attend [Lieutenant] Col [David] Mason & work under his direction those Men not to [be] changed any Day as has been the Case but to continue with him till the Service is compleated.” See also Dodge, “Orderly Book,” description begins “Orderly Book Kept by Capt. Abraham Dodge of Ipswich, January 1, 1776 to August 1, 1776.” Essex Institute Historical Collections 80 (1944): 37–53, 111–30, 208–28, 368–84; 81 (1945): 87–94, 152–175. description ends 81:154.

1. “Henshaw’s Orderly Book,” description begins “The Orderly Books of Colonel William Henshaw, October 1, 1775, through October 3, 1776.” Proceedings of the American Antiquarian Society, n.s., 57 (1948): 17–234. description ends 177, reads “cleaning their Rooms.” See also Dodge, “Orderly Book,” description begins “Orderly Book Kept by Capt. Abraham Dodge of Ipswich, January 1, 1776 to August 1, 1776.” Essex Institute Historical Collections 80 (1944): 37–53, 111–30, 208–28, 368–84; 81 (1945): 87–94, 152–175. description ends 81:154.

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    Washington Papers
    Title
    General Orders, 11 July 1776
    Author
    Washington, George
    Date
    11 July 1776

    Reference

    Cite as
    “General Orders, 11 July 1776,” Founders Online, National Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-05-02-0190. [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 5, 16 June 1776 – 12 August 1776, ed. Philander D. Chase. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1993, pp. 262–263.]